The Woman in Black – Review – Bradford Alhambra
By Christine Goode, March 2026
At last, we are beginning to feel that the long winter is ending. We have enjoyed a beautiful, sunny, warm day, and what better way to spend the evening than with a trip to the beloved Bradford Alhambra – to be scared out of our wits! I am renowned for being a ‘Nervous Nelly’ amongst friends and family, much to the delight of my darling mother, who has always relished my misfortune, so I invited her to be my guest – let us just say the tables have now turned.
The iconic Alhambra stage has been transformed into a 1950s-style theatre, with a wooden floor, an extremely high rake to the stage, and minimal furniture scattered around. Huge, ragged stage sheets cover the front of the stage and drape over props, setting the scene for a theatre in the dark, waiting for its next show to take place. The lighting in the auditorium is lower than usual, and the atmosphere is already eerie. Eventually, the lights go down and a lone actor quietly enters the stage. He reads from a manuscript, very nervously and quietly, drawing the audience’s attention to every word. Suddenly, a loud booming voice from the back of the stalls shouts out, and the audience leaps out of their seats in shock. This sets the tone for the next two hours.
“Ghostly visions”
The Woman in Black is a classic gothic ghost story written by Susan Hill and published in 1983. It was later adapted for the stage by Stephen Mallatratt and premiered in 1987 at the Stephen Joseph Theatre in Scarborough, North Yorkshire. In 2012, it was released as a successful film starring Daniel Radcliffe.
Having seen the film, I can say that I preferred the stage play. John Mackay and Daniel Burke give a masterclass in performance. Mackay is superb as the vulnerable Arthur Kipps. As the play progresses, he slips into other characters with many different demeanours and accents, simply by changing costume on stage, perhaps a coat, or a hat and glasses, transforming himself before our very eyes from a shy, well-spoken, quiet Englishman into a confident, strong Scotsman, as well as many other characters. Burke is excellent as The Actor, giving a top-class performance full of empathy, strength and feeling. These talented actors hold our attention and have us fully submerged in this ghost story. With eerie silences, every look and movement, along with ghostly visions, sound and lighting effects, they keep us hooked throughout the play.
“Adds to the thrill”
The lighting and staging are simple in comparison with some productions we may see today. However, the beauty of this allows the actors to use their skills to bring the story to life, turning a simple basket hamper into a carriage, a desk or even a bed. We, the audience, are also challenged to use our imagination; we follow along as they pet an invisible dog or change trains, which all adds to the thrill of the show.
The entire production was excellent. It is a spine-chilling tale with a twist, and we spent most of the evening jumping out of our seats and screaming, especially my guest. By the end, I was emotionally shattered, but in awe of the actors who go through this night after night. This is one of the most thrilling pieces of theatre I have seen, and it will give audiences goosebumps.
The Woman in Black is at Bradford Alhambra until 21st March
images: Mark Douet
Christine Goode founded her own dance school – The May School of Dance & Theatre Arts over three decades ago. Her dedication to teaching and love of dance, has created many successful artists in the industry, and she is delighted that many of her former students have now returned with their children, allowing them to also discover this beautiful art. She has choreographed, produced and directed shows over the last 36 years, and is devoted to all live theatre and music. Now in her third year of writing about her obsession with the arts, Christine loves to encourage everyone to see as much live theatre as possible.
maydanceschool.co.uk
